CAR2A1Z.FT6051
TAG Heuer Boutique / 28th September 2024, Meadowhall, Sheffield
Some of you will probably remember that the original 45mm Carrera Heuer 01 Skeleton (CAR2A1Z) was at first available in just one format: red dial highlights and a black rubber strap. This was later expanded to include a white rubber strap and indeed a red rubber strap. There was also a 'Blue Touch' edition which featured blue dial highlights and a blue rubber strap, that was pretty nice too... but by the time that arrived I'd already bought mine and I don't have any regrets about that.
It's perhaps a little surprising that TAG Heuer didn't play around more with this, as we saw some future possibilities at the launch event (yellow, orange and lime green models were on show but none of them made it into production - booo!). But still, if you own a CAR2A1Z you can of course order a white or red (or blue I guess) strap for it, and that's exactly what I decided to do after 8 years of ownership!
Believe it or not the catalyst for this was when I pulled a pair of Oakley Jawbone shades off of my head and broke the right arm... this led to me deciding to buy a pre-owned pair of the same in white and once I'd got used to the idea of wearing white shades (which took a couple of weeks honestly) I started to wonder if perhaps a white rubber strap might look good on my beloved Carrera.
Since it was getting close to my wedding anniversary, and since my wife never knows what to get me, I thought... well, why not. Worse case scenario I wear it for a bit then switch it back and it lives in a drawer, it's hardly the end of the world is it?
So I messaged Maxine at the Sheffield branch of TAG Heuer (miles away from me but I always go there for everything) and ordered one. It came really quick, but I couldn't get up there straight away so I had to wait - but then I had to wait 'til my wedding anniversary anyway so it wasn't a big deal.
I didn't bother taking my watch with me since I was confident I was going to be able to fit the strap without any drama, and I kinda thought I'd probably be putting the black one back on before too long anyway. In reality it turned out to be more awkward than I expected as you have to hold the strap at a very sharp angle to the case to get it to fit. But I did it without too much swearing (just a little) and I managed not to scratch my watch either, so I consider that a bona fide WIN!
Now, thus far in this post I think I've been pretty straight with you. I was curious, but not particularly hopeful, about how the watch would look wearing its white rubber suit... but I'm here to tell you now that once I got it on my wrist I was blown away. Yes it's a bit 'Miami', and yes I was slightly self-conscious wearing it out at a fancy restaurant for our anniversary meal, but still... I honestly think it looks great.
Not that it needed 'refreshing', but the new strap really makes the watch look fresh and exciting. I mean I loved it how it was, but I love it like this too... and I certainly won't be changing it back anytime soon. I'm still not sold on the red option though (which naturally crossed my mind), it doesn't look anything like as vibrant as I would like it to and the red colour is 'off' somehow.
If you fancy a new rubber strap for your CAR2A1Z the cost is £130, which is not cheap obviously, but I think it was well worth it. Especially since I didn't pay for it! 🤣
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